You’ve probably heard that the US military isreplacing the M16/M4 and looking into new rifles and ammo. (US Army and Marine Corp) Wondering why they’re looking into 6.5 Creedmoor in particular? No, its not because the Russians are out gunning us. Here’s the scoop.

There are a couple things you should know about 6.5 Creedmoor and today, we’ll put this round into sharper focus for you. So let’s look at it in more detail so that you’ll see why it works for the military and why it could work for you.

Creedmoor Kicks Ass at Long Range

6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge

Right off the bat, the US Special Operations Command understood all the good things about this cartridge as an alternative to its existing ammo.
The cartridge was introduced in 2008 as one of the first and best cartridges for precision long range shooting.

At the time, there weren’t a lot of civilians shooting long range, but in recent years, the company has seen demand grow in the hunting industry, and grow as manufacturers continue to put out more affordable long range rifles.
Today, it is the go-to cartridge for many hunters and competitive shooters.

Long Distance Shooters Love Creedmoor

Precision long range shooting skill a learned trait which is an advantage to have in combat and the military seems to be catching onto Creedmoor’s awesome reputation and populatiry for shooting close and tight precision groups at 500 yards or more.

Having a bigger bullet means you’ll do bigger damage to your target, whether your target is a tango or a blood thirsty wild hog.

Our brothers in arms go through enough shit. The last thing they need is hellish recoil.
If there’s one thing you won’t get with 6.5 Creedmoor, is its crazy blowback.

These guys don’t need to be dealing with blowback.

6.5 Creedmoor is specially designed for low recoil rounds without compromising pinpoint accuracy.
Did you also know that it can go subsonic after 1,300 yards?

When it comes to tactical applications, this cartridge packs a serious wallop

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQHVgZq_6nk?start=90]

6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 Winchester

There are some long range groups think that there aren’t any real differences between 6.5 Creedmoor and the long-established .308 Win.
But those people would be ill-informed.
The truth is, they are very similar, however there are some things in which they differ.

First there is the huge gap between the two when it comes to ballistics. 6.5 Creedmoor loads can reach a thousand yards with less than three hundred inches of drop with proper windage.
This is true of just about any ammo, particularly Hornady 178 grain HPBT, that is used with a 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge.
The .308 Win doesn’t compare to that kind of numbers.

The Cartridges Compared

Another area in which 6.5 Creedmoor often bests .308 Win is in its accessibility.
A lot of .308 ammo is out of stock when you visit the major online ammo dealers.
But if you run a search for Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr AMAX, they’re everywhere.

And thats the other thing that is very good news for the military and all of us: there are plenty of dealers – large and small – from which they could order 6.5 ammo in bulk.

Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor

Another argument that comes up is about barrel longevity, claiming that the 6.5 Creedmoor only last for 2-3,000 rounds whereas the .308 Win will be good for as many as 10,000 rounds.

This is simply bogus since it all depends on whether you’re shooting 1 MOA.
Theres just no way that the .308 could be reaching that mark at 10,000.

If you’re using it with a precision rifle or for seasonal deer shooting, you’re going to go long ways with your 6.5 Creedmoor, no if, and, or buts..about it, except the butt you put a bullet in.

And thats another thing. Combat isn’t always what it looks like in movies and on TV. For those that have served can tell you that there are many days where you don’t see much action and, even when you do, its not necessarily a rapid fire situation.
But Murphy’s law does exist when the shit hits the fan.

If you’re an active duty sniper (Marksman Observer), you’re gonna get a whole lot more life outta your 6.5 Creedmoor than you would with the .308.

Solving the Problem
What’s really crazy about the 6.5 versus .308 argument is the simple fact that 6.5 Creedmoor was specifically conceived to be a cartridge that would be superior to the wildcat cartridges of the day.
As the story goes at the Civilian Marksmanship Program 2007 National Matches at Camp Perry, Hornady engineer Dave Emary decided to remedy what he saw as a problem among competitive shooters.

The Man Himself

As Emary saw it, people were trying to push their cartridges to the limit, attempting to defy the laws of physics by brainstorming methods by which to get their cartridges to perform at levels that weren’t made to. Problems would then crop up as a result of these jeri-rigging formulas.

In Emary’s own words, “People were having a lot of problems with functioning the 6mms. They were running these things at very high pressures to try to get the performance they need to compete.”
“Our solution was to go to a 6.5, firing a lot higher BC bullet, and not have to push it as hard to get what they wanted.”

Dave Emary in the Hornady Workshop

Emary and his team solved this problem by taking existing .264 cartridges and altering the specs, giving the cartridge the capacity for long-ogive, high-ballistic rounds.
Lo and behold the 6.5 was born, a short-action rifle cartridge capable of insane performance.

Make Your Hunting Experience a Good One

Like I said earlier, this cartridge isn’t just a slam dunk for the military should they end up choosing it over the others they’ve been testing.
Its also a damn good option for almost any civilian hunter or gun enthusiast.

If you didn’t hear the news: USSOCOM has adopted the 6.5 CM as their new Precision Rifle cartridge. It was a close call between the 260 Remington and the 6.5 Creedmoor, but the 6.5 CM won the day due to the military’s belief that the 6.5 CM has more room for innovation for the future.

Many target shooters have taken to the Ruger Precision Rifleand my targets gets shredded to pieces. The results are always incredible. At long range, many are saying the the CM leave 2.8 inches at five hundred yards.

But the advantages for game hunters is where this one really shines. Its got a sick muzzle velocity due to its extra powder space and its able to accommodate a wealth of different medium-burning rifle powders.

If you’re anything like me, you wouldn’t automatically think of long-range shooting when it comes to big game. After all, ethical hunting requires limiting your range to as short as possible to ensure a clean kill.

That being said, it should also stand to reason that if 6.5 Creedmoor can take out a target at 500 yards, its going to take care of business at 100 yards with no problem.

If you can kill it from this far away, then you can kill it from just about anywhere in between.

From personal experience, I’ve seen how this can perform in a close quarters situations and I was every bit as impressed as I was when I hunted with the .308.
The round went right where I wanted it to and I bagged a deer without a rechamber. Like I said: clean humane kill.

Why 6.5 Creedmoor is Awesome for Target Shooting

Better grouping and more affordable ammo makes the 6.5 Creedmoor a no-brainer for those who camp out a lot at the firing range.

Holes in Target from a 6.5 Creedmoor

When we take into account the rising cost of ammo in the last few years and the scrutiny that many firearm and ammo companies have faced, 6.5 ammo maintains a reasonable price point and remains readily available.

And cheaper when you buy in bulk. so stock up.

And when it comes to high-end ballistics, you can’t beat these suckers. The BC numbers on these bad boys are awe-inspiring (approximately .610 G1 at 140 grain). If you’re looking to impress, you really can’t go wrong with the 6.5’s remarkable 1,400 fps at 1,000 yards(!).

Best 6.5 CM Ammo

If you want the very best from this cartridge, you’ll have to get into reloading. You can start with our Beginner’s Guide To Reloading. But if you’re not into that, then you’ll need something you can pick up at the store.

Training/Plinking

If you’re on the range to have fun, you don’t want to spend a fortune. But this also isn’t the kind of caliber that you buy cheap, crappy ammo for – you’ll want something that shoots consistent and for a fair price.

Sellier & Bellot is what you’re looking for, from 9mm to 6.5CM they make a good product for a good price.

Best 6.5 CM Rifles

A cool cartridge is only as good as the weapon that throws it, just like a weapon that throws it is only as good as what it throws.

Hunting Rifle

For a budget hunting rifle, it’s hard to beat the Savage Arms 12 FV – not only is this a solid rifle out of the box, but it is at a price that is hard to beat. I commonly see this is the $370-$410 range.

Long-Range Precision Target Rifle

I already said it, but when it comes to long-range target shooting the Ruger Precision Rifle is just too good to beat. For the price, the options, the aftermarket, and the out-of-the-box quality – you want this rifle.

Honorable Mention Rifle

A dedicated rifle for every role is the dream for many of us, but if you don’t have the room in your safe (or your budget) for that then you might want to consider a middle of the road do-it-all rifle.

Other Accessories

Another important thing to keep in mind when purchasing any cartridge is maintenance. If you’re going to be participating in extended shooting sessions, you should always bring along the proper gear for cleaning your rifle and cartridge. Maintenance will help you to sustain that pinpoint precision you’re hoping for.

Glen Rock, PA – American Built Arms Company (www.abarms.com) is pleased to announce it is selling Remington’s Model 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD barreled actions in 308 Win to FFL Dealers and custom gunsmiths. The barreled action includes the receiver, bolt, barrel, thread protector, and fire control.

American Built Arms Company, a Veteran-owned, Type 07/NFA FFL, is a manufacturer and seller of firearms parts and accessories.
A*B Arms Founder and President Jason Combs says, “We are truly honored and excited about dealing in products from such a legendary icon as Remington Arms Company. Remington is a Made in the U.S.A. company that has such a rich history and has produced a long line of legendary firearms. We look forward to providing Remington barreled actions to those individuals looking to configure their own rifle and release their own creative spirit that has always defined our great country.”
Dealers interested in purchasing Remington Model 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD barreled actions should contact A*B Arms at customerservice@abarms.com.

About American Built Arms Company:
Headquartered in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, in an area with a long tradition of manufacturing excellence and craftsmanship, American Built Arms Company (A*B Arms) was founded on the principles of Honor, Service and Integrity. A*B Arms is a Veteran-owned, Type 07/NFA FFL, manufacturing company providing the defense industry, security, law enforcement, sporting goods and firearms owners with American-made, quality firearms products. For more information on American Built Arms Company, please visit www.abarms.com.

INTERVIEW BY GARN KENNEDY • PHOTOS BY AMERICAN BUILT ARMS COMPANY

[su_dropcap style=”light” size=”5″]T[/su_dropcap]he American Built Arms Company was started in 2010 by Jason Combs, a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division and the Maryland National Guard. As a longtime outdoor enthusiast, Combs has been around ﬁrearms and other hunting tools his whole life. After the economy went belly-up in 2008, he took his innovative AR-15 hand guard design idea and his life savings, and launched A*B Arms.

Over the next year and a half, the company continued to design and launch a few other AR-15, AK-47 and IWI Tavor parts and accessories. Soon, a large, high-end AR manufacturer approached them to produce quality, Swissmachined bolt assemblies, and this additional work helped A*B Arms move forward with increased name recognition and product sales.

When the AR-15 market went soft in 2014, A*B Arms saw the opportunity to shift gears and move back into the hunting and long-range shooting arena. The company designed and launched the MOD*X Modular Riﬂe System, a lightweight, aluminum chassis system for the Remington Model 700 Short Action.

Within a few months, they had sold more than 500 units to a variety of distributors, law enforcement agencies and hunting enthusiasts. Feedback was positive overall, but various Marine Corps snipers, SWAT team members and competitive long-range shooters shared some excellent advice regarding a few small, important changes that they wanted to see to improve the MOD*X. Combs listened to their feedback and launched the MOD*X GEN III. Today, A*B Arms is designing chassis systems for riﬂes beyond the Remington Model 700.American Shooting Journal What are the typical signs that a person should upgrade their riﬂe to your MOD-X Chassis system?

American Built Arms Bolt-action enthusiasts are looking for two main things when evaluating an upgrade of their factory installed stock to our MOD*X GEN III chassis. The ﬁrst is to reduce weight, and the second is to give the riﬂe an improved tactical look and feel. Some states don’t allow hunting with an AR-15 and the MOD*X GEN III gives the user a riﬂe that looks like one. Some folks tell us that they “found” their grandpop’s old Model 700 with a beat-up, old stock and wanted to bring it into the 21st century.ASJ Does this process require a gunsmith or anything different to change over to Chassis system?

ABA The beauty of the MOD*X GEN III Modular Riﬂe System is that you can remove your barreled action from your existing stock and assemble it into the MOD*X GEN III within 10 to 15 minutes. No special tools are needed. Just your standard hex screwdrivers and some Loctite. No gunsmithing is required.ASJ All things being equal, is there a signiﬁcant shot group size reduction after transitioning to one of your MOD-X Chassis systems?

ABA Sure, all things being equal, the MOD*X GEN III will reduce your groupings substantially. That’s due to the fact that the chassis “envelops” the barreled action in a tight grip. No more potential slop often found in some bedded stocks.ASJ Have only competition shooters made the changeover, or have you heard from hunters as well?

ABA Hunters are huge fans because of the weight reduction and the ability to add tactical accessories to the KeyMod rails, such as lights and night scopes, etc. Not to mention, with the side-folding variant, you can put your riﬂe into a carbine bag for easy transport.ASJ Can you keep the same barrel and hardware when switching over?

ABA The MOD*X GEN III works with the Remington Model 700 short-barreled actions. Remington owners have built .223, .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor barreled actions into the MOD*X GEN III. A*B Arms provides all the hardware to make the switch from the stock to the chassis, as well as an easy-to-read assembly manual.